Speak with kindness and sincerity. Let others know about all the fun things your faith community participates in. There may be raffles, fundraisers, community meals, community projects (often involving charitable acts), and even musical events.
Put up flyers and advertise in your local newspaper to generate community interest in your event. Focus on creating a fun event. Don’t worry about making it “religious” - if non-churchgoers have a fun time with the priest/pastor and parishioners, they’ll develop an organic interest in learning more about your church, and current parishioners at other area churches may decide to join your parish.
Choose an ideal size. Some churchgoers find that four inches by six inches is big enough to include an image while still being small enough to fit in a pocket or handbag. Combine images and text. Try using one large image for the invitation’s background that will catch a viewer’s attention. You may want to use an image of the church, a religious icon, a nature photograph, or even some visual image from contemporary popular culture. The text should be short and to the point, and it should pull someone in who has been drawn to the image. Hand them out in bundles of two or three. That way the person you give them to can help further distribute your invitations to others. [2] X Research source
Being in a group can give you confidence, and the person you approach will notice the sense of community and camaraderie between you and your fellow churchgoers.
family members friends coworkers or classmates neighbors[4] X Research source
Many non-churchgoers prefer to attend church services on a Sunday morning. Weekdays may be difficult, whereas Sundays are often a leisure day for most people who work Monday through Friday. [5] X Research source If it’s near Christmas time, an Advent or Christmas mass would be an ideal occasion. If it’s near Easter, consider a Lent or Easter mass. Religious holidays like Christmas make non-churchgoers more open to attending services. [6] X Research source
You can pray independently for guidance and inspiration, or ask your priest/pastor for his prayers to help you on your mission.
Ask politely and work sequentially to turn a potential “no” into a confident “yes. " Begin by offering the person you’d like to invite some small personal gift, like a plate of home-made cookies. Try to establish a stronger friendship/relationship with that individual. Invite that person to social gatherings at your house, and ask her permission to pray for her and her family. Ask politely if it would be okay to invite that individual’s kids to a church function. Tell her you think it would be a great way to meet other kids in the area and have a safe, fun time. Ask politely and respectfully if that individual would be open to attending church with you some time. If she says yes, invite her for the date you’ve chosen. If she says no, be respectful of her decision and try to remain a close and loyal friend. [8] X Research source
Collect your thoughts before you respond to a “no. " Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Perhaps it’s just not the right time for that individual, or perhaps she’s had negative experiences at church in the past. Either way, it is not a reflection on you or your abilities. Try to keep your emotions in check. Don’t get upset if a person rejects your offer. Remember that you have an obligation to be an ambassador of Christian values, and that includes being kind to others without any strings attached. [10] X Research source Extend an open invitation, even if the person says no. You can say something respectful and inviting, such as “That’s okay, I respect your decision. Just know that if you ever change your mind, my invitation always stands. "
Family members are the most likely to know about your faith, and may have questions or a sincere desire to share in your weekly worship. Extended family are a good branching out point after you’ve reached out to your immediate relatives. This may include uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins. These individuals know and trust you, and may be open to joining you and your family for worship. Close friends are another good branching out point. You most likely have a close bond of intimacy and trust that can help you invite these individuals to share in your faith. Neighbors may be ideal people to approach. These individuals know and trust you. They also live in close proximity to you, which means they probably live in close proximity to your place of worship. Coworkers and classmates are a big jump from family,friends, and neighbors. These individuals may not know you very well, which means you may have to work harder to gain their trust and recognize their needs for faith or community. Strangers will be very difficult to invite to church. These individuals do not know you or have any kind of relationship with you. You may assume someone you meet is in need of faith or a spiritual community, but it can be hard to appeal to that person’s needs if they don’t already know you on some level.
the death of a loved one a recent relocation/change of residency a new job or school a recent marriage the recent birth of a child a recent divorce family problems a major illness (either for the individual herself or someone she knows)[13] X Research source
Any social event could be an opportunity. For example, attending your children’s sporting events could put you in touch with other parents who might be looking for a good church to take their own kids to. If you spend a lot of time volunteering somewhere (say, for example, a hospital), you may want to consider inviting people you meet at your volunteer site. Let your selfless volunteer work be an example of the faith principles you live by, and be a positive ambassador for Christ.
Try socializing with the individual a little. Invite her to coffee or lunch, and show a sincere interest in whatever is going on in that person’s life. Invite the individual to a church function. If your church has a donation drive, ask if she’d like to be a part of the effort. You might also try inviting the individual to a potluck dinner or a bingo event. Work your way towards inviting the individual to an actual church service. Try using some special occasion for your invitation, like a holiday service, a mass with a children’s choir, or a mass with some type of special music (like a folk choir). This can be a good icebreaker for attending church, as it shows the individual something fun and engaging while also welcoming that individual into the community. [15] X Research source Remember to respect the individual’s choice. If she does not want to go, or if she goes and does not like church, that’s okay. You can take comfort in the fact that you extended an invitation to a non-churchgoer, and you’ve been a good ambassador for your faith. Just be sure to continue to show that individual respect and love.
